Former National Service CEO allegedly paid MP to kill 'ghost names' scandal - AG

The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, made a serious allegation. He stated that the Chief Executive of the National Service Scheme (NSS) paid a Ghanaian MP to hide a scandal. This scandal involves ghost names in the NSS.

At a press conference on Monday, Dr. Ayine shared new evidence. His office found financial transactions involving NSS executives and vendors. These transactions were linked to attempts to cover up fraud.

Dr. Ayine said, "We have evidence of payments made into accounts of top executives." He claimed these payments came from vendors and staff within the scheme.

He also alleged that in November 2024, the NSS CEO paid an MP to suppress the ghost names story. The goal was to bury it in the media and publicly defend them.

"This is a developing story," he added, hinting at more revelations soon. The scandal includes thousands of ghost names on the NSS payroll.

This situation has led to further investigations and potential prosecutions. While Dr. Ayine did not name the involved MP, he suggested more information will emerge soon.

This investigation is part of the government's Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) program. Last month, President John Mahama announced actions against those involved in this scandal.

During his State of the Nation Address on February 27, President Mahama instructed investigative bodies to act swiftly. They are tasked with tracing and freezing assets linked to suspects in this fraudulent scheme.

He stated that those who fled would be declared wanted for accountability and recovery efforts. "I have tasked our investigative bodies to bring these culprits to justice," he said.

The estimated number of ghost names could exceed 80,000, costing over GH¢50 million monthly. Some suspects have already left Ghana; their assets will be frozen until investigations conclude.

The scandal was uncovered after a nationwide audit of the National Service Authority (NSA). It revealed fake names on payrolls allowing corrupt officials to steal funds meant for real personnel.

Investigations showed collusion among high-ranking NSS officials and payroll administrators creating fictitious workers for personal gain.